module 23 common mental health disorders

Question 1

concussion

Answer 1

alteration in mental status resulting forma blow to the head or neck
- rotational forces causes a transient disruption in the reticular neurons that maintain alertness

Question 2

concussion s/s

Answer 2

dizzy
dazed look
slurred speech 
slow motor and verbal responses
irritability
N/V
loss of consciousness may indicate severe inj 
amnesia 
deficits in coordination, memory, attention

Question 3

delirium

Answer 3

impaired cognition, consciousness, mood, and behavioral dysfunction of acute onset 
Risk factors: 
- serious illness
- injury 
- pre-existing cognitive decline

Question 4

delirium tremens

Answer 4

brains response to withdrawal from alcohol consumed in large quantities over time
Alcohol withdrawal s/s:
- elevated vitals, irritability, anxiety, restlessness, anorexia
Delirium tremens s/s:
- agitation, confusion, combativeness, panic, seizures, hallucinations, illusions

Question 5

depression

Answer 5

psych disorder assoc. with a neuro-chemical imbalance
feelings of helplessness and hopelessness and recurrent suicidal thoughts
mood and affect are altered: sadness, anxiety, agitation
somatic complaints: altered appetite, sleep problems, constipation, HA, fatigue

Question 6

depression s/s

Answer 6

memory loss, poor concentration, lack of motivation, indecisiveness
slow, sluggish speech
delusions of worthlessness or paranoid ideation
disorder may result from grief, reaction to medical or neuro diseases, or change in lifestyle

Question 7

mania

Answer 7

persistently elevated, expansive, or irritable mood lasting longer than one week
assoc. with a neurochemical imbalance, an inc. level of monoamines
impairments in social, occupational, and interpersonal functioning

Question 8

mania s/s

Answer 8

hyperactivity
overconfidence
exaggerated view of ones abilities 
grandiose or persecutory delusions
dec. need for sleep 
poor social judgement 
Characterized by
- racing thoughts, 
- flights of ideas
- rapid fire loud speech
- excessive rhyming or punning

Question 9

anxiety

Answer 9

group of disorders with marked anxiety of fear that causes significant interference with functioning

• assoc. with abnml lvls of norepi and serotonin
• most common psychiatric disorders and may persist throughout life

Question 10

anxiety disorders

Answer 10

panic attacks
generalized anxiety disorder
specific phobias 
obsessive-compulsive disorder
PTSD

Question 11

s/s of panic attacks

Answer 11

palpitations, tachycardia
sweating, shaking, choking
chest pain or discomfort
nausea, abd. distress
dizzy, faint
feeling unreal of detached from self 
paraesthesias

Question 12

schizophrenia

Answer 12

severe, persistent, psychotic disorder with relapses throughout life
- may be associated with fetal neurodevelopmental defects
- viral infection during preg
- prenatal nutritional deficits
- peri-natal complications
Inheritable disorder likely involving several genes on different chromosomes

Question 13

schizophrenia s/s

Answer 13

typical adolescent or early adult onset
affects perceptions, thinking, language, emotions, and social behavior
Major
- hallucinations
- delusions
- disordered thinking, speech, and behavior

Question 14

mental delay/retardation

Answer 14

significant subaverage general cognitive functioning and deficits in adaptive behavior manifested during the childs development
May be associated with structural brain defects or genetic disorders

Question 15

mental delay/retardation s/s

Answer 15

delayed motor development

delayed speech and language skills

Question 16

ADHD

Answer 16

neurobehavioral problem of impaired attention and hyperactive behavior affecting 5-10% of children
- dopamine system disturbances may be assoc.

Question 17

ADHD s/s

Answer 17

short attention span
easily distracted
trouble completing assignments
fidgets and squirms, moving, running, jumping
disruptive behavior, poor impulse control

Question 18

autistic disorder

Answer 18

pervasive neurodevelopmental disorder of unknown etiology

• refers to a wide spectrum of disorders typically prior to 3 years of age
• believed to have multifactorial causes and a strong genetic influence

Question 19

autistic s/s

Answer 19

does not make eye contact
resists being held or touched
odd and repetitive behaviors
ritualized play, preoccupation with parts of objects
motor development appropriate for age

Question 20

dementia

Answer 20

chronic, slowly progressive disorder of 
- failing memory 
- cognitive impairment
- behavioral abnormalities
- personality changes
Often begins after 60 years of age
Usually related to structural diseases of the brain

Question 21

dementia s/s

Answer 21

impaired memory
getting lost in familiar areas
unable to manage shopping, food prep, meds, finances
behavioral changes, inappropriate dress or conduct 
aphasia, agnosia, apraxia
apathy, withdrawal 
anxiety, irritability 
changes in mood

Question 22

alzheimer type dementia

Answer 22

approx. 60% of cases

may be caused by abnml processing or deposition of amyloid

Question 23

vascular dementia

Answer 23

approx. 5-10% of cases

- reduced cerebral blood flow such as a brain infarct

Question 24

Other dementia

Answer 24

assoc. with diffuse Lewy bodies in the brain
Parkinson disease
frontal lobe degeneration